Killing the Father -The Symbolic Quest of the Son

In today's Talking About Men's Health (TAMH) blog post, author John Lee, MA describes a necessary rite-of-passage in the development of sons, which can result in a healthy transformation to adulthood and manhood - Killing the Father...

In today's Talking About Men's Health (TAMH) blog post, author John Lee, MA describes a necessary rite-of-passage in the development of sons, which can result in a healthy transformation to adulthood and manhood - Killing the Father: The Symbolic Quest of the Son.

"At the dinner table sits a young father who feeds himself and a mother who feeds her living doll; a child, by nature, sucks in all the food and energy the parents can provide. The father feels like there's enough food to go around, but some part of him he can't quite locate feels that he's not getting enough of the woman's energy, time, or attention, as he did before the permanent guest arrived," Lee describes.

"When a son rejects his father's fears that there is too little energy to go around and asserts himself, he begins to 'kill the father' in another necessary rite of passage. If a son finds the courage and responds to the need to look his father squarely in the eyes until the elder looks away, he's done it," Lee continues. "When the son finally allows himself to succeed in the areas in which his father failed, then he's accomplished it. The day the son breaks the pattern that has tied him to his father's psyche and soul, he's achieved it. These are just a few of the ways that the son symbolically and necessarily 'kills the father'."

Read the entire blog post here:

http://www.talkingaboutmenshealth.com/killing-the-father-the-symbolic-quest-of-the-son/

John Lee has been a leader and author in men's health issues for over a decade. Lee began his career as a professor at Austin Community College, the University of Alabama, and the University of Texas. He has written 18 self-help, psychology, recovery, creativity, or relationship non-fiction books that explore men's health issues, like alcoholism and co-dependency. In 1986, Lee co-founded Primary, Emotional, Energy, Recovery (P.E.E.R.), a training program for counselors, social workers, and psychotherapists. Two years later, he founded and directed Austin's Men's Center, a counseling center that specializes in men's issues. In the late 1980's, he opened his own private practice in Austin, Texas specializing in men's issues, relationships, adult children of alcoholics, and co-dependency. More information about John Lee can be found on his web site www.johnleebooks.com.

Talking About Men's Health (TAMH) is a resource for men, their families, and other interested parties, about the latest in men's health public policy, health and fitness information and research, parenting and other relevant issues. In addition to being a resource, TAMH is a forum for you to join the public discourse on men's health issues. TAMH is proud to have authors who are pioneers in men's health research new guest bloggers who contribute to the men's health conversation. Read the latest blog posts at www.TalkingAboutMensHealth.com .